A Failing Grade: More cuts on the way for Iowa’s public schools
Drey for Iowa
On Tuesday, the Iowa Senate held its first day of debate for the 2026 legislative session, and the big focus of the day was school funding.
Senate Debates School Funding Proposal
The bill in front of us, SF 2201, was a Republican proposal to set the annual increase for public school funding at 1.75%. As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, this is not nearly enough to provide for the type of world-class educational environment our kids deserve. It will result in harsh budget cuts for school districts around the state.
I know that percentage can seem abstract, so here’s what it means in real terms:
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Only $21.2 million in increased funding for the hundreds of school districts around the state
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Many school districts won’t be able to afford the new basic minimum teacher salary requirements, so teacher vacancies will remain unfilled or existing teaching positions will be cut, meaning class sizes will grow and kids won’t get the individual attention they need
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Extracurricular activities, like a 100-year-old orchestra program in Boone, will be cut to save costs
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Schools will consolidate or close altogether
After several hours of debate, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 28-20 – three Republicans joined every Democrat in voting No.
The bill now moves to the House for consideration. I will keep you updated on its progress.
